Dein denies Gilberto wrongdoing

Arsenal's vice-chairman David Dein shed fresh light on the workings of the transfer system yesterday as he gave evidence in the high court relating to the signing of Gilberto Silva.

Dein said Arsenal used "a conduit" in Brazil, Dick Law, to speak to Gilberto's then club Atletico Mineiro and the midfielder's agent in the build-up to the transfer in 2002.

Dein, however, denied that meant Arsenal had made "covert" approaches for Gilberto as he gave evidence during a case over agents' fees. Arsenal reported Chelsea to the Premier League this year for tapping up Ashley Cole.

The former Liverpool striker Ronnie Rosenthal and his business partner Jacques Lichtenstein claim they are owned an agreed £450,000 from Atletico Mineiro over Gilberto's transfer.

Dein claims they played no part in the deal and was questioned by the pair's counsel, Jonathan Crystal, about the role played by Law, who was not a Fifa-licensed agent. Dein called Law a "good friend" and "our man on the spot who we trusted implicitly" and said Law did not have to be Fifa- licensed "for the work he was doing". When Crystal put it to Dein that he had asked Law "to contact the agent of a football player who was contracted to another club", Dein replied: "I asked him to make inquiries of the footballer's agent and the club."

Dein explained he asked Law to make inquiries about how much it would cost to buy Gilberto without revealing that it was Arsenal who were interested in him. He said it was not a "covert" approach as Law was being asked to approach both player and club. He told the court Law was told not to disclose that it was Arsenal who were interested because "the price goes up". The case continues.

West Ham have signed the goalkeeper Roy Carroll, who was released by Manchester United. Their manager Alan Pardew said he hoped to make "three or four more signings".

Tottenham have agreed a deal with Leeds for the midfielder Aaron Lennon, 18, subject to a medical and personal terms.

Manchester United have moved significantly closer to signing the South Korean international Park Ji-sung from PSV Eindhoven as well as persuading Cristiano Ronaldo to sign a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2010.

George Burley has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant managerial position at Millwall. Yeovil, meanwhile, have confirmed they have given Derby permission to approach their manager Gary Johnson.